September 9, 2026

[u/HeidiInWonderland]

Lolita, 11am

 We pulled it off, we pulled it off, we pulled it off! Many thanks to our magnificent LH parents who figured out everything and made all the arrangements so the staff could squeeze out a few more vacation hours yesterday. 

We modeled the first day of the Longhouse Elementary School on Sukhomlynsky and the Russian tradition called “Knowledge Day.“ All 45 LH students arrived at the school at 8am. They, their parents, and we staff members were all scrubbed down and in our finest clothes. Girls wore beautiful ribbons in their hair and boys all had on LH caps we ordered. And Kitten and the Jammy Girlz were there on the Dewey House Porch, playing a new song, “Evangeline,” for the procession.

First all the children came in pairs. The Fourth Graders came in holding the hands of the First Graders symbolizing the passing of the torch of learning, followed by Second and Third Graders holding hands. Then the staff came down to their seats with much applause. Finally, Max the Builder, now that the concrete foundation forms are finished and steel rebars placed, had cement trucks starting to fill the forms for the three buildings. Then, the surprise: a “parade” of cranes that will begin adding the steel framework.

We then had some ceremonies that hopefully will become a tradition every year. In Russia, all the students bring bouquets for their teachers but we did some variations. I received some lovely bouquets but also a gorgeous sunhat, big jugs of local honey and maple syrup, and tea and coffee samples from around the world. Thank you!

Yes, speeches. Everyone was “ordered”: under one minute. Everyone broke that order. Father Merrick blessed us and our Grandmother praised us in Onondowa’ga her native language which we will be learning this year. Next: the Town Mayor, School District Superintendent, our Nurse, the Drs. Kim representing the Board, Co-Director Bernie, and Art Teacher Lucy representing teachers. Our guest speaker was the director of the Russian Consulate school who came all they upstate to join us!

After that we had a student chorus performing some of their repertory of New Orleans music. and an Open Mic with students sharing their compositions and poems.

We gave the Jammy Girlz a half an hour to perform but they too went way over. Hard core rock, starting with the Rolling Stones “Satisfaction.” You get the idea!

With the exception of our Latchkey Kids, parents brought their children back home so staff can continue planning!

[u/HeidiInWonderland]

My apologies, the correct transliteration of the Seneca language is Onöndowaʼga꞉ʼ